Doweled expansion joint installer



Jan. 3, 1939. J. WESTLAND 2,142,294

I DOWELED EXPANSION JOINT INSTALLER -Filed'Maroh 15, 1935 3 sheetssheet1 'Jan'. 3, 1939. 1.. J. WESTLAND I 4 4. DQWELED EXPANSION JOINTINSTALLER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mm K m L. J. WESTLAND DOWELED EXPANSION JOINTINSTALLER,

Jan. 3, 1939.

Y Filed March 15, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Jan. 3, 1939 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE Application March 15,

Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus used in the construction of concreteroads, pavements, and streets. It has particular reference to the layingof concrete roads and pavements whether 5 streets or sidewalks. Presentpractice requires that the installation be provided with expansionjoints at appropriately spaced intervals and the common practice is toprovide such expansion joints with dowels or pins that extend into thematerial being laid to provide a secure anchorage for the material ofthe expansion joints, which material is generally of some compressiblesubstance that is capable of providing a cushioning effect to compensatethe expansive movement of the material from which the road, street, orpavement is constructed.

In the majority of installations at the present time, the strip ofmaterial forming the expansion joint and its associated dowel pin isstaked in position in the roadbed or subgrade and the material pouredthereover and thereafter hardened and set with the expansion joint anddowel in proper position embedded in the material. These expansionstrips or joints extend across the entire width of the road or streetand are positioned in perpendicular relationship to the longitudinalcenter line of the roadbed. Under the present practice it is generallythe custom to have the concrete mixer and spreader travel along thesubgrade and obviously, in such cases, the expansion joint and dowelassembly cannot be staked in the subgrade until after the mixer machinehas passed the point at which the joint is placed. The proper settingand staking of expansion joints of the dowel type requires approximatelythirty minutes for an installation under the methods as practiced priorto the advent of this invention. Actually this requires that theprogress of the mixer and spreader be held up while the expansion jointis being staked in place and this, of course, materially affects thespeed at which the road may be laid. This element of time is animportant economic factor.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a novel methodand means for installing expansion joints whereby the joint and itsassociated dowel structure is assembled at a remote point and positionedas a unit in the subgrade at a desired point immediately following thepassage of the main body of the concrete mixing machine, withoutnecessitating the stoppage of the machine as it travels along thesubgrade.

Another object is the provision of means for 55 assembling a doweledexpansion joint structure 1935, Serial No. 11,335

as a unit at a point remote from its point of location, whereafter itmay be positioned as a unit at a desired point in the subgrade.

Another object is the provision of a novel portable frame provided withmeans for assembling and detachably securing thereon an expansion jointwith its associated dowel elements whereby the frame may be carried tothe point of installation in the subgrade and the assembled jointstructure may be released therefrom and seated in the subgrade as anassembled unit.

Another object is the provision of a portable assembly means for doweledexpansion joints wherein the joint structure may be assembled andproperly proportioned with respect to the subgrade as a unit before itis placed in service position.

Other objects will be apparent from the description to those skilledinthe art.

The present disclosure constitutes an operative embodiment of a methodand means by which my invention may be reduced to practice. It is to beunderstood that the structural details of this disclosure may be variedas desired within limits not inconsistent with the scope of theinvention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portable joint assembly frame asconstructed in accordance with this invention, with the joint elementsassembled therein as a unit and seated in service position in a subgradeimmediately prior to removal of the frame.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus on the line 55 of Figure1.

Figure 6 is a vertical section, in fragmentary illustration, taken onthe line 6- 6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal section on the line 1-? of Figure4. 45

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective View of an expansion joint stripas used in connection with the apparatus.

In detail, the invention comprises a portable frame consisting of a pairof parallel side bars 9, fashioned at each end with hand grips orhandles l0, which members are secured in appropriately spaced relationby a plurality of transversely disposed brace bars ll arranged inparallel spaced relation at each end of the frame and at appropriatelyspaced points intermediate the ends. The frame is thus of rectangularconfiguration being elongated in the direction of its longitudinal axis,the effective length of the frame side members being exactly the widthof the subgrade between the usual road forms I2 which are positionedalong side of the subgrade to provide forms between which the materialsuch as concrete is to be laid.

The frame includes lower side bars I3 attached to the upper side bars bya plurality of external brace members I4. The lower frame side bars I 3underlie the upper bars 9 and are spaced therefrom by spacer blocks I5.lower side bars I3 is less than the length of the upper side bars andthis difference in the relative length provides a seating shoulder bywhich the upper frame bars at each end may be seated on top of the roadform I2 with the lower frame bars I3 depending into the subgrade andabutting the vertical faces of the road form at each end.

At appropriately spaced intervals longitudinally of the frame therespective side bars are provided with internal lateral substantiallyU-shaped brackets I6, arranged as opposed pairs whereof the legs arebolted or otherwise attached to the adjacent inner faces of therespective upper and lower side bars of the frame and having flatvertically disposed bight portions I! that are vertically slotted toprovide for the vertical sliding adjustment therein of bolt stems I8anchored in a pair of vertically adjustable supporting bars I9, one ofwhich is adjacent each side of the main frame and supported on therespectively adjacent bight portions of the brackets I 6. The bolt stemsl8 are provided with the usual securing nuts 20 threaded over their endswhereby the supports l9 may be vertically adjusted with respect to theirholding brackets I6 as illustrated in Figure 6.

As best illustrated in Figure 1, these vertically adjustable supportingbars I9 extend the entire length of the frame between the end braces IIand they are respectively arranged in parallel relationship spaced aparta distant suflicient to accommodate the reception therebetween of theconventional expansion joint dowels 2|.

A stop plate 22 is positioned between one of the support bars I9 and theadjacent bight of its carrying bracket I6. This plate extends beneaththe support bar to provide an abutment or stop means for the end of thedowel rods 2I, which rods, when the joint elements are assembled withinthe frame, have their ends seated within receiving notches 23 in thebottom face of the support bar at intervals appropriately spacedlongitudinally of the bar to meet the spacing distance requirement ofthe dowel rods employed in the joint structure. At the opposite side ofthe frame the lower frame member I3 is provided in its upper face with aplurality of dowel rod guide recesses 24 that are in registry with thereceiving notches 23 transversely of the frame. It is to be noted thatthe brackets I6 are so positioned that they are not in registry withthese dowel rod receiving and guiding notches.

Each of the support bars I9 is provided on its inner face with amanually operable latch means for releasably engaging the dowel rodswhereby they may be connected to the frame and restrained therein inproper service position while the frame is being carried from place toplace. This latching means, in each instance, comprises a longitudinallydisposed latch rod 25 that ex- The length of the r tends the entirelength of its adjacent support bar I9 and which is provided at one endof the frame between the handle portions I3 with an actuator handle 26whereby the latch rods may be reciprocated through appropriately spacedguides formed by the bight portions of U-bolts 2I anchored in therespective support bars. These U-bolts 21 also provide a securing meansfor the plate 22. Each of the latch bars 25 is provided with a pluralityof keeper members 28 arranged to engage beneath the dowel rods as thelatch bar is moved inwardly with respect to the frame to accomplish aconnection of the parts. These keepers 28 are of the one way engagingtype and cooperate with the latch bar to secure the dowel rod againstvertical displacement within the frame when the bar is moved to latchingposition.

The bottom edge of each of the transverse braces II is provided with asubstantially semicircular centering recess in the longitudinal axis ofthe frame. These recesses 29 are in registry and the bottom of eachrecess provides a seat for the substantially U-shaped upper edge 30 ofan expansion joint holder 3I comprising a vertically disposed plateextending the entire length of the frame between the end braces II andwith its bottom edge positioned substantially in the plane of the bottomedges of the lower side frame bars I3. This holder plate 3I is anchoredin position within the frame by angle brackets 32 extending between thelower edge of the holder plate and the adjacent transverse braces II,and further by securing bolts 33 securing its top flange 30 to thebottom of each seating recess 29 in the respective braces II. Thisarrangement provides for a secure anchorage of the holder plate 3I whichis thus rigidly secured in the frame in proper vertical position withits substantially U-shaped top flange 30 centrally located in the framein its longitudinal axis.

Each of the end braces II has mounted thereon an eccentric lever 34operatively connected with a depending hook 35 which extends beneath thebottom edge of the holder SI for a purpose to be described. The shank ofeach hook 35 preferably works through an appropriate aperture providedfor the purpose in the mounting brace I I.

As shown in Figure 8, the expansion joint element to be installedcomprises a strip 36 of suitable compressible material attached in anysuitable manner to a seating plate 3'! which provides a backing,therefor and which plate is provided with a substantially U-shaped topflange 38. The backing plate is slotted as at 39 for the receptiontherein of the dowel rods 2I which pass through holes provided thereforin the strip.

In service the frame is inverted and placed upon appropriate supports ata point remote from the point at which an expansion joint is to beinstalled in the subgrade. With the frame in this inverted position, theexpansion strip 36 with its backing plate 31 is seated in the holder 3|with the top flange 38 of the expansion joint backing plate nested inthe U-shaped flange 3D with which the holder is provided. The eccentriclevers 34 are then manipulated to cause the hooks 35 to engage beneaththe edge of the expansion joint backing plate whereby the strip and itsbacking plate are securely clamped in seated engagement with the holder3|. The desired number of dowel rods are then passed transverselythrough the guide recesses 24 in the frame side bar and they arerespectively passed through the expansion joint receiving slots 39 untiltheir ends are received in the notches 23 in the opposite support bar l9in abutting engagement against the stop plate 22. Following theinsertion of the dowel rods the latch bars 25 are moved inwardly withrespect to the frame so that the keepers 23 engage the dowel rods tolock them against vertical displacement with respect to the frame.Theusual longitudinal reinforcing elements 40 are then wired to the.dowel rods by the conventional wiring means 4| or by any appropriatesecuring elements and the proper vertical adjustment of the support barsI9 is then made to secure the desired height of the dowel rod 21 withrespect to the subgrade surface 43. This adjustment is made according topredetermined measurements and is obtained at a point remote from thepoint of installation in the subgrade.

With the parts comprising the expansion joint strip and its associateddowel thus secured as a unit in the frame, the frame is turned over andis carried to the point of installation where it is positioned on theroad form as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Before the frame is disengaged from the associated joint structuremounted therein, the dowel rods are staked in the usual manner by theapplication of holding stakes 44 which in this instance comprise metalstakes having upstruck securing tongues 45 that are adapted to becrimped into holding engagement with the dowel rods as best shown inFigure '7 The expansion joint strip 36 and plate 31 are then stake-d inposition by the conventional subgrade stakes 46 after which theeccentric levers 34 are manipulated to release the hook 35 and the latchbars 25 are drawn outwardly of the frame to release the dowel rods 21.The entire frame may then be lifted bodily from its seated engagement onthe road form and the assembled expansion joint with its associateddowel rods will remain in proper service position within the subgrade.

Obviously, as the entire assembling of the joint strip and itsassociated dowel rods, together with all height adjustments is madewithin the frame at a point remote from the point of installation, theinstallation can be accomplished in a very short time, within the spaceof about three minutes, due to the fact that it is merely necessary toseat the frame on the road form at the desired location and to stakedown the dowel rods and the expansion joints while the frame is inplace. After the staking the frame is removed and the joint elements arein service position.

It will be readily apparent that due to this extremely short space oftime the entire expansion joint and dowel structure may be positioned inthe subgrade at any desired point without arresting the progress of amixer that is traveling in the subgrade. As soon as the body of such amachine has passed the joint point, the frame is positioned and thejoint is installed before the spreader mouth of the machine has reachedthe location of the joint. The frame is removed and carried to anadvance point where another joint is assembled therein and the assemblyis completed before the machine reaches the point of the succeedingjoint. The actual service installation of the expansion joint is thusaccomplished within a space of approximately three minutes as comparedto the period of about thirty minutes required in prior art practice,which prior art practice also necessitates the complete stoppage of thematerial laying machine during installation. The practice of myinvention dispenses entirely with the stoppage of the material layingmachine and materially lessens the time of installation, therebyeffecting a very material saving in both time and labor. By the use ofmy apparatus, all adjustments are made prior to setting the frame uponthe road form so that all that remains to be done is the mere stakingdown of the dowel rods and the expansion joint strips.

After the concrete has set sufficiently, the plate 31 is removed leavingthe strip 36 properly positioned in the joint.

The use of the apparatus of this invention insures that the joint strip36 will be positioned accurately at a right angle to the center line ofthe road, and in a true perpendicular to the subgrade, with all dowelrods properly spaced parallel to the finished surface and to its centerline.

I claim:

1. Expansion joint installing apparatus comprising a portable frame, aplate mounted therein and extending throughout substantially thelongitudinal center thereof, a flange on said plate and extendinglaterally from one edge thereof, releasable hooks in said frame andadapted to extend over another edge of said plate tocooperate with saidflange in retaining an expansion joint strip on the plate, and means inthe frame for supporting a plurality of dowel rods in service relationwith a joint strip when retained on said plate.

2. Expansion joint installing apparatus comprising a portable frameincluding parallel side members, means in said frame for supporting anexpansion joint strip centrally between said side members and parallelthereto, a support bar carried by each side member longitudinally withinthe frame, guides on said support bars, a sliding latch on each supportbar and reciprocable through said guides, means in each support bar toreceive the ends of dowel rods, and said latches being operable toretain dowel rods in the support bar receiving means when disposedtherein.

3. In an expansion joint installing apparatus, a portable frameincluding parallel side members, a support bar carried by each sidemember longitudinally within the frame, guides on said support bars, asliding latch on each support bar and reciprocable through said guides,means in each support bar to receive the ends of dowel rods, and saidlatches being operable to retain dowel rods in the support bar receivingmeans when disposed therein.

4. Expansion joint installing apparatus comprising a portable frameincluding parallel side members each consisting of upper and lower sidebars connected in parallel spaced relation, means in said frame forsupporting an expansion joint strip centrally between said side membersand parallel thereto, a support bar carried by each side memberlongitudinally within the frame, guides on said support bars, a slidinglatch on each support bar and reciprocable through said guides, eachsaid support bar being provided in its bottom edge with a longitudinalseries of spaced dowel rod receiving recesses horizontally aligned withthe space between the upper and lower bars of the frame side members,and said latches being operable to retain dowel rods in said recesseswhen disposed therein.

5. Expansion joint installing apparatus comprising a portable frameincluding parallel side members each consisting of spaced parallel upperand lower bars, means in said frame for supporting an expansion jointstrip centrally between said side members and parallel thereto, bracketssecured to the bars of said frame side members a sliding latch on eachsupport bar and reciprocable through said guides, said support bars eachhaving its under edge recessed at a plurality of points to receive dowelrods therein, and said latches being operable to retain dowel rods in 5said recesses when disposed therein.

LOUIS J. WESTLAND.

